Out for a walk!

Walking is more popular than ever. A moment offline, out in nature, clearing your head. Walking is even turning into a wellness trend! It reduces stress, lowers your blood pressure, and comes with plenty of other health benefits. So it’s high time to get outside. Hit the trails, wander the lanes. Off you go!

Luckily, we live in a city surrounded by forests, dunes, and beaches. And even within The Hague itself you’ll find stunning estates where you can completely unwind on a peaceful walk. In this blog, we’re highlighting our favourite spots to stretch your legs.

Like a fairy tale

One truly magical forest we absolutely love: the Hyacinth Forest. On the southern edge of The Hague, near Monster, you can enjoy a beautiful landscape here and get those steps in – especially when the hyacinths are in bloom!

This forest is part of Ockenburgh Estate, an estate where ordinary mortals like us were not welcome for centuries… it used to be accessible only to young lords and ladies! Lucky for us, those days are long gone.

And now for the crucial question: when do the flowers bloom? Generally speaking, the hyacinths bloom between mid-April and mid-May. But with Mother Nature, you never know for sure! So keep an eye on things in spring.

Oases of calm in the heart of the city

Clingendael Estate

This stately estate, located between The Hague and Wassenaar, is also centuries old. Clingendael was designed in the English landscape style that became popular in the 17th century. You’ll find beautiful buildings, ponds, and gardens with thoughtfully grouped trees. But the most extraordinary feature is the Japanese Garden!

Covering 6,800 m², this is the largest Japanese garden in the Netherlands, and because it is the only one created around 1910, it holds significant historical value. Not only the plants, trees, and moss are rare and Japanese: the bridges, lanterns, and statues were also purchased in Japan and shipped to the Netherlands. Quite the undertaking at the time!

Because the nature within the garden is very delicate, the Japanese Garden is not open year-round. In spring and autumn there is a short period during which you can visit. Keep an eye on the schedule, because you definitely don’t want to miss this special pocket of nature during your walk through Clingendael!

Haagse Bos

The most famous forest in The Hague is, of course, the Haagse Bos, the forest where Huis ten Bosch Palace is located. In this centuries-old woodland, the Hague nobility once took carriage rides, and today everyone enjoys this slice of nature in the middle of the city. Spot the deer at the Koekamp, wander along ponds and winding paths, stretch out on a blanket in one of the meadows, or take the kids to one of the two play forests. In Haagse Bos, there’s a place for everyone!

Oosterbeek Estate

Yet another beautiful estate right in the middle of The Hague. Oosterbeek dates back to the 17th century. In 1629, Jonathan van Luchtenburch, rentmeester-generaal (chief steward) of the count’s domains in North Holland, bought a farm with some land and built a house surrounded by a moat. Stables and a garden house were added, and opposite the main house he created a pond with an island. You can still encounter all this beauty today while walking through Oosterbeek Estate.

A fascinating piece of history: in 1935, Oosterbeek was purchased by film producer Loet Barnstijn. He built film studios and used the existing buildings as offices, film storage, a sound studio, and technical workshop, naming the estate “Film City.”
When the Second World War broke out, Loet Barnstijn, who was Jewish, fled to the United States. Film City was seized by the German film company U.F.A. and used for a time to make National Socialist propaganda films. During the war, British aircraft bombed the studios.

Wandering through the dunes

Meijendel

The largest continuous dune area in South Holland stretches all the way between Scheveningen and Wassenaar. It’s a stunning landscape of dunes, woodlands, wildlife (rabbits, foxes, weasels, and roe deer), small lakes, and plenty of great walking and cycling paths. You can even cycle the LF1 long-distance route from Scheveningen, past Wassenaarse Slag, all the way to Katwijk.

But there’s just as much to discover on foot! With several marked walking routes, you’ll never run out of beautiful views.

An extra tip if you’re looking for a place where kids can burn off some energy: the Monkeybos. Close to visitor centre De Tapuit, this playful forest area lets kids build huts, climb trees, and explore. There’s a zip line, a lookout tower, huge water pipes they can crawl through—and best of all, access to the Monkeybos is completely free.

Westduinpark

On the southern side of the city, near the Zuiderstrand, you’ll find Westduinpark. A protected dune park with wonderfully varied scenery: dense vegetation, open fields, cosy dune valleys, and high dune tops. To keep the landscape so diverse, a herd of Scottish Highlanders has been introduced to the area. These friendly, shaggy residents roam freely, so you might encounter them anywhere in the park.

You might also stumble upon bunker remains from the Second World War. During the war, the Germans built an extensive network of bunkers and underground corridors here as part of the Atlantikwall. After the war the bunkers were sealed, but they are still visible throughout Westduinpark today.

Blowing away at the beach

Our top tip for the best beach walk from The Hague is along a very special stretch of coastline: the Sand Motor on the Zuiderstrand.

The Sand Motor is an artificial peninsula created in 2011 to help protect the Netherlands against rising sea levels. The massive volume of sand placed here slowly shifts northwards over time due to wind, currents, and waves. As a result, the beach naturally widens over the years.

The newly ‘washed-up’ areas attract many birds, making the Sand Motor one of the best places for birdwatching during your coastal walk. And if you’re lucky, you might even spot seals around the Sand Motor. It’s also an amazing spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing!

From March to October, once you’ve had your fresh-air fix, you can flop down at Haagse treasures BLOW or Suiderstrand.